Asking a question from a restorative perspective means giving up the insinuation that we already know, and like or dislike, the answer.~ Dominic Barter, Restorative Circles

this is useful because...

When I don’t know something for certain and don’t try to convince myself that I do, I’m held momentarily in the hand of restraint and the world is safer for it. Without designing answers, I’m forced to hold the question open. It might seem doubtful or even absurd that the world of our understanding is unreliable and that the possibility of peace lies not so much in what we know as in what we don’t. Something I know for a certainty often solidifies into the sort of unquestioned fact that outreaches doubt and curiosity. If a question has been answered to my satisfaction, I’m not likely to see the need for further inquiry. - Lin Jensen

Restorative Circles

One process I've been exploring is the Restorative Circle (RC) work of Dominic Barter in Brazil beginning in the 1990’s. This form, as I understand it, occurs in community within a co-created restorative system (planning for conflict), recognizes that all people are contributing to the context in which they find themselves (including conflict,) and employs a three phased Circle process using a specific agreed to dialogue process. As I'm still early in wending my way through the paradigm challenge and capacity to engage restoratively, I'm using verbatim the process and questions as developed through the experience of Dominic and colleagues. Eventually, I may want to try variation. But so far, the more I engage with it as is, the more I see the wisdom in how the work as developed by Dominic and colleagues supports the paradigm and opportunity for restorative results. I also continue to find that staying in contact with others doing this work through the Restorative Circles website, Yahoo group and Facebook group is a good way to stay with the flow of its development.Restorative SystemIn any group of people, there is always a system for addressing conflict informed by a paradigm out of which the processes that occur within operate. If we haven't consciously chosen a system, it is likely to be the one we inherited, which for many of us in the West, is a retributive or punitive system. (An example of this would be blaming a "wrongdoer" and meting out punishment and/or forcing him/her to apologize.) We have a choice. We can "own" our conflicts and choose together how we wish to address them. What works? What doesn't work? How would we like it to be?

This form of RC is a restorative process that to life through being created and maintained by and within the context of the community using it. If we want a process to be restorative it will be most likely so when it takes place in the context of a restorative system within a restorative paradigm. In a restorative system, we plan for conflict and decide together that a restorative process is an option to address conflict, and we work out the different aspects of how the system operates - all based on restorative values and principles. This decision to co-create a system is separate from any particular decision to participate in a Restorative Circle (RC) to address a particular conflict (more on this, below).

The restorative system is something that people create and maintain together. Some of the questions people consider are: What is the scope of our community? What are our sources of support in developing a restorative system and what resources do we have? Who are the sources of power in our community? Do we agree that restorative process is an option to address conflict? Who will do the work of setting up and maintaining our restorative system How to initiate a RC? How will people know about the option to initiate a RC? Where does the RC take place? What happens if a person does not attend? Who will offer facilitation of RC? How can I learn about RC, including how to offer facilitation?

Using an Peacemaking Circle or other power balancing process is one way that seems to be quite useful to explore these matters and make decisions as we develop our restorative system. It's also helpful for cultivating our sense of care for one another, belonging in community, listening skills, and resilience, all of which support us to create a healthy restorative system.

To the extent that the restorative system and processes within it align with restorative values and principles the more restorative the results are likely to be, so we tend to this while choosing how we'll address conflict. For example, in working out inclusion, in a RC everyone is asked "who needs to be present?" and these folks are invited. There is no filter by those offering facilitation or anyone else. In working out voluntariness, an a RC no one is forced to participate in the Circle. In working out tending to everyone's needs, if a person chooses not to be present for the Circle, the Circle still goes forward, with the possible option for a substitute. The substitute does not represent the person, but rather is present in the position the person substituted for, but as him/herself - in the sense of a substitute in a sporting event. So, it's quite important for a person who serves as a substitute to be experienced with the RC process and from different perspectives. Other examples of aligning values and principles within the system involve self-responsibility, such as each person having an opportunity to speak to why they did what they did, and shared power, such as the systemic context in which the Circles takes place, that everyone is asked the same questions in the Circle, and that person(s) offering facilitation are community members and not neutral, but rather "polypartial" - partial with everyone in the Circle.

Restorative Circle (RC) processHere's an overview of one way that the structure of the RC process can look. This is a very specific facilitated/hosted dialogic process with its own unique distinctions. Recognizing that the map is not the territory, I offer this here as an overview for those who are new to this practice and as a reference for those who have attended learning events. I think the best (only?) way to really learn this process is by engaging with it, attending a learning event(s) and connecting with others engaged with this practice, and figuring out together what will actually work in your community. If you'd like more about restorative paradigm, systems considerations, and a view of facilitation straight from Dominic Barter and colleagues, check out the Materials on the Restorative Circles website. You can also check out the info and opportunities on this site's Resources and Events pages. To eavesdrop on a conversation between Edwin Rutsch and myself as we worked with conflict in an online group in 2013, see Reflection on System Development and Facilitation Experience.

Phase 1: Pre-CirclesAnyone in the community can initiate a Circle. How that happens is up to the community in creating the system. Some ways to do it are with a clipboard or Google form where the person who wishes to initiate the Circle writes her/his name and contact info so s/he can be contacted by a person offering facilitation/hosting and set up a Pre-Circle meeting to explore going forward (see below). If s/he choose to go forward, then all those s/he calls to the Circle also have an opportunity for a Pre-Circle meeting with the persons offering facilitation/hosting, and people they might call also have this opportunity, and so on. These relatively brief meetings are essential and preparatory for the Circle, an opportunity for each person called to the Circle to speak and be heard from her/his perspective, be clear about the process, say who needs to be there, and decide whether or not to go ahead. Once all the Pre-Circles are completed, a date for the Circle is scheduled.

Pre-Circle questions:1a) to the person initiating the REC: “What was said or done that you’d like to bring to a RC?” [In this conversation, among the many things that people have said or done, something specific that was said or done is chosen as the "Act"*see below];1b) to other participants: “What was said or done that led you to be invited to this RC?” [In my experience so far, people don't always know what the Act is, and it seems to work well to state the Act, and possibly “How are you about that?”, then empathically listen. In setting up the system, I could see where the community might decide to have the Act written down where everyone can access it, but I haven't been part of something like that - yet]2) “Who needs to be there?” or "Who needs to be present to resolve this?"; [Describe the process that will follow & answer questions, if any.]3) “Would you like to go ahead?”

*NB re. the "Act": This is NOT an assignation of blame or wrongdoing, but rather a simple description of something that happened, something observable that was said or done. Something everyone would likely recognize as having happened, but may assign different meanings to it. There are likely to be several options - what symbolizes the conflict for the person initiating the Restorative Circle? The Restorative Circle is an opportunity for the meaning to each person to come forward. An example of an Act in a RC that I hosted in a public school was "Ana moved Rhea's art project on {date}." (Names changed.) It turned out this was deeply meanigful to each person and was a good doorway to addressing the underlying conflict.

The person offering facilitation/hosting also has a Pre-Circle. It's really important for everyone to have a Pre-Circle!The questions that are asked in the Facilitator Pre-Circle are:1) “What idea or ideas are you having about yourself, the process, or other participants that diminishes your ability to focus on the humanity of everyone involved?”2) “As you look at the steps you’re going to take, is there anything that comes up for you for which you’ll want support?”; “Do you know what you want to do to arrange this support?”3) “Would you like to go ahead?”

Phase 2: CircleThis is the Circle, where there's opportunity for everyone to come together to explore the conflict to support mutual comprehension, shared responsibility, and to make agreed actions for going forward in light of what has been discovered. In the Circle each person has an opportunity to speak and be heard and to participate in agreements about what to do going forward. The Circle is facilitated/hosted by a community member who has agreed to ask the questions (at least initially) and support the dialogue as it flows. (Much to be learned here. Practice useful. Here's how one group has set up guidelines for a RC facilitation practice group: page 1, page 2, page 3.)

Circle questions:1) “What would you like known, and by whom, about how you are right now in relation to the event and its consequences?”

to the listener: “What did you hear?”

to the speaker: “Is that it?" and then "Is there more?"

2) “What would you like known, and by whom, about what you were looking for at the moment you chose to act?” [NB: Each person speaks to what s/he did.]

to the listener: “What did you hear?”

to the speaker: “Is that it?” and then "Is there more?"

3) “What would you like to see happen next” and/or “What would you like to offer?” and/or “What would you like to request?” Each person takes a turn answering this/these questions, in order to develop and agreed Action Plan. This can be(come) a conversation, depending on the flow of the Circle. If more needs to be addressed, the dialogue may naturally return to more answering of questions asked earlier in the Circle and so it continues from there. The Action Plan is comprised of what people agree to specifically do, and by when. It will likely be written down.

Phase 3: Post-CircleThis is a separate meeting, scheduled for a time after the last action agreed to in the Action Plan was scheduled to take place. It's a time to reflect on how the Action Plan has gone, to celebrate what has worked and see if anything else needs to be done, including making new agreements, or more dialogue, if needed.Post-Circle question: “What would you like known, and by whom, about how you are now in relation to the Action Plans and their consequences?”